Forgive the Jazz if they don’t get all teary-eyed in Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game. Utah needs a win and a Rockets loss to sneak into the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and with so much at stake, it’s doubtful they get caught up in the festivities.
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SCHEDULING
A poor run to close the season may have cost the Jazz a postseason berth. A favorable stretch of games that had Utah at home for three of four games before closing against the dreadful Lakers was to put Utah in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. But those plans were derailed with losses in each of the three home contests, including an embarrassing overtime defeat to the Clippers who were without DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick. Now the Jazz must defeat the Lakers and hope Sacramento can upset Houston, or else it’s early tee times on the local golf course.
One more game before the Lakers can put this Kobe Bryant farewell fiasco behind them and start rebuilding the once proud franchise. It was a wonderful gesture by the club to honor the last of its all-time greats, but all it did was put the development of the guys who will be around a year behind schedule. The Lakers actually regressed from the previous season, setting a franchise record for fewest wins, which included some lean years in Minneapolis when the team was playing 70 games a season.
INJURIES
Center Rudy Gobert sustained a sprained ankle in Monday’s loss to Dallas and didn’t return. He was seen on crutches after the game and is listed as day-to-day. Forward Derrick Favors was clearly bothered by a sore knee that limited his effectiveness on Monday night. He managed just 11 points and three rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Lakers have no new injury concerns, but it hardly seems to matter. Even with their desired lineup, LA was blasted by 33 points in Oklahoma City on Monday night.
KEY MATCHUP
It’s been a dismal season for the Lakers and Kobe Bryant but he has one last game to play in his illustrious career and we can see him going out with a Hollywood ending. While the Lakers have gone oh-fer April, it’s actually been one of the better months of the season for Kobe. He’s averaging nearly 20 points per game in six contests this month and twice has topped the 30-point mark. He dropped 34 on Boston on Apr. 3 and went for 35 at Houston on Apr. 10. It would be a fitting end to his brilliant career to go off on the Jazz and bring the Lakers a victory.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Jazz showed no mercy in the last meeting between the clubs, blasting the Lakers 123-75, handing L.A. its worst loss ever. And losing is something the Lakers have gotten used to this season. Utah has plenty to play for with a postseason spot still up for grabs, but the Jazz lost control of the eighth seed by dropping three of their last four games. They might be without their big man Gobert, who injured his ankle Monday night, and that could allow Julius Randle to do some damage down low. But Utah’s stingy defense has been particularly good against the Lakers this season, allowing an average of just 77 points in three games and no more than 82 in any of them. The Jazz should be able to knock down enough shots to win this game.
NBA Odds: Utah 97, Los Angeles 89
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The game between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers is slated for Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
